Read Poem: Anthology of Fears, by Verica Mukoska

I see you again through words
word is our touch
and the rumble of a blank sheet
from a verse woven into your eyes
and wings spread out, and a scar that does not hurt
and will not hurt
all until I ink you.

All the pictures of this world
as if besieged by mad fears
erase my dreams
like invisible dust spread on your cheek
from truths
and pearls that dried out
from tears.

My yawl is now
but a black rainbow
flying through the narrow air
from atomic fears
and hopes ruptured
like rays torn from space.

The reflection is on the verge of the endlessly expected looks
from your secret promise of a single goodbye
which gives birth to insipidity through words
distorted by silence and fear
as a testament to silk lashes
as an anthology of fears.

Read Poem: Loving Kindness Slam, by Jennifer James

When I say loving kindness
My body stops for a beat,
A moment…PAUSE
And then I breathe – INHALE AND EXHALE,
I place my hand on heart, I feel the feels…
Yes all of them from my head to my heels…
Turning inwards generates all sorts of emotions,
sometimes it feels like waves on the ocean,
and I allow myself time to be embraced in compassion,
self-compassion is turning inwards and taking action;
May I be free
May I be loved
May I be kind to all beings
Granting permission to the gateway of loving and seeing
what it means to be open, my heart and my mind
creating space for the loving kind.
Today it comes more easily,
and for that I am grateful,
but it’s been a journey,
rooted in me being doubtful.
It’s a lifetime of learning; opening, closing, connecting,
suffering.
My heart, mind, soul; together and breakingfeeling and aching,
learning over the years,
THE LOVING KINDNESS SLAM
Yes, through rivers of tears,
that forgiveness is a doorway that opens wide,
and creates a pathway to newness, joy, and delight inside
IF YOU ALLOW IT
you see, our tendency
is to run…far away,
Avoid AND GHOST
I said it, I did we ghost,
ourselves and most
others…the people in our lives we care about; our friends, family,
partners, and community
Truly it’s crazyand yet we do it – willingly, knowingly…
SIGH
If only, we could see,
what a moment of loving kindness could be
to each other; if we opened up honestly
Would it hurt that much?
If we allowed each other to be
So I extend my arm outwards,
I’m reaching for you, this is me connecting to your heart and saying
May you be loved
May you be valued
May you be free

By: Jennifer James

Read Poem: Lessons of Imperfections, by Laleeta Suhas

When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was to write, write and give speeches about.
But then I turned thirty, and I wrote nothing but text messages flirty, and my hidden urge was also turning out.

I saw an ad in the newspaper, they take classes to teach how to write.
However expensive they seem, drenched in my glorious dream, my childlike heart joined them in delight.

For last 6 weeks, I gained the knowledge about processes and thoughts.
And I still couldn’t finish alone not a single assignment known or unknown, as I was exposed to my most insecure spot.

I was assigned a time, a space on my own, to visit everyday until I am inspired.
I started showing up to the session, for my conscious it was transgression, And yet to write a famous book was my own desire.

I remember my first meeting with the teacher, I reached her office 10 minutes early,
Lost in noticing everything – a diary, a laptop, some flowers, a family portrait, a Bible,
Everything was well kept, arranged pretty properly.

She had asked me to start thinking, as that hour and space was something I could call mine.
The only task was to write all – a page, a para, few words whatever struck at that time,
There were no rules, I could cross any line.

That was my second week, I stared at the couple who’d been kissing on the side of the road,
I got distracted by those ugly moaning sounds, and their performance in public,
While waiting to relieve art from my twisted brain’s average load.

That made me think about my life – beautiful, full of laughter, friends and lot of money,
There were hardly rainy days to write about , an event of sadness here or there
But if counted, most of them were sunny.

My session had ended on the toll of 10 o’clock, it didn’t even feel as the writer’s block.
Such a fortunate life of mine, but unable to write was the only disappointment
Once again the disbelief whispered in a shock.

This time, I decided to quit and left a biographical note to my teacher at the table.
‘Annoyed’, ‘mad’, ‘outraged’, ‘helpless’ are amongst the words that I used,
and artistically slide them under her Bible.

On my way out, outraged, I bumped into a man, sweet, I felt I knew him since ages.
He asked me out for coffee which followed by a long chat,
He promised we’d meet again and showered all his praises.

Sometimes coffee-shops, sometimes theaters, at times my house, again and again we met.
Unplanned, involuntary, this affair of adventure,
and those deliciously delirious love’s intoxicating effect.

When he sang me a love song, honeyed words, the day he bought a ring of diamond.
Months passed by, and I deviated from those stupid writing class
Indulging into exhilarating, special, and emotionally intense bond.

Soon, he broke into my house, murdered my dog, police said he was a goon.
He not only stole my money, but that diamond ring
with which he proposed and promised me stars and moon.

Consumed by intrusive thinking, trying to make sense of everything on those sleepless nights
I decided to reschedule my writing class,
even if ‘my calling’ was unresponsive but that was all right!

Without postponing, angrily weeping, I poured my heart on that notepad and cursed my life.
I left without looking at the piece, only to visit next day
to again write down my kaleidoscopic strife.

When finally I stopped writing, I saw her appear to me, raw, primeval, intrinsic! What a good omen!
I couldn’t believe I was encountering my first writing,
my precursive work of art – my destiny – ‘My Poem’.

I sat writing on that desk for ages, until one day, life made me bleed vulnerably on the page.
Revealing the parts of me that I’d rather hide –
Somewhat creative but cathartic life that I confess.

Now that I sit on my own desk surrounded by the books I wrote with dark reflections
and I’d think now what is more important for an artist –
parts of passion, pathos, or painful lessons full of imperfections?

– Laleeta

Read Poem: Eyes in Dostoevsky’s Palms, by Stefan Markovski

There were once eyes inside Dostoevsky’s palms
I do not know if he knew
But he moved them calmly and without closing

There were eyes inside the palms
that outlined the fate of the Karamazovs
Or the dilemmas of a girl too young with a pointed revolver
to the temple of him the unloved
Or the rational egoism of
Everyone locked in the underground of their own skull
The hand movements were calm and disciplined
As only military engineer would be

There are eyes
Siberian blizzards passed through the pen
Though, they look sharp
As if about to penetrate through the layers of the wind
Or of the palm
Even if it closed
Or would not be there

Read Poem: CELESTIAL STUDIO, by I.B. Iskov

I imagine what God’s art studio must be like.

Large and white, between boundless clouds,
His studio contains palettes of silver and gold
to prime canvasses of light and shadow.

In another corner, His kiln stores the raw materials:
amber dust, rain and baby’s breath.

Each lifeform lovingly held in His hands;
at our creation,
painstakingly molds each of us
with delicate precision.

We are flawed but beautiful in His eyes.
No sculptor has yet produced a perfect statue.

Even those primal experiments
resulting in imperfect people are viewed
as sacred and dear in His eyes.

Read Poem: A HANDFUL OF WORDS, by Holly Johnson

This is nothing but a handful of words,
They know not what they mean, yet here they are,
Here as i write, they will speak and be heard,
Their plea, it remains, no matter how far.

You may be right here while I’m stuck out there,
But these letters stand tall, black against white,
Expressing so pure with flavour and flair,
Not just what was, but what is and what might,

Memories may fade, the years, they turn dark,
We will grow old, grow weak, struggle to cope,
But now we are strong. We will make our mark,
It may not be much, but we could use some hope.

Just know, every word written here is true,
Read and you’ll see, I’m still right here with you.

Read Poem: WHO TOLD YOU TO GROW UP?, by Ashlee Bell Caress

Crisscross applesauce, where do I begin?
Ask, Ash’e’s ashes, while we all fall around the ring of roses.
Peter’s piper told me little Miss, still sits on her bridge that’s falling down.
Wishing upon twinkling stars.
Be nimble and quick, don’t fiddle diddle down the stream Miss little.
Remember, rock a bye went Mary on the hilltop after Jack fell down and couldn’t stop.
Apparently, he broke his crown and all the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t help put him back together again.
Honestly, I laughed when that bough broke, to see such fun.
I ran away with the spoon because we were happy…and we knew it.
Weeks later we clapped our hands and out came the sun.
I said, “did you ever see such a sight in your life, as silver bells and cockleshells?”
He said, “Yeah, but only after I met the farmers’ wife.”

Read Poem: ARBOREALITY, by Martin Cox

Standing in Line. Eyes front.
No acknowledgement. Robotic recruits
Uniforms pressed. Knife-edge creases.
Summer sunshine. Corona causation.
Shoes shone. Reflective leather. Bows tied.
Tarsal protection. Cobbled, with a mirror image.

No one speaks. Wordless. Mute.
Personal thoughts? Dubious!
Typical English. Restrained. Controlled.
Vehicle now approaches. A two-tiered behemoth.
Military Green-hued. Land-locked missile.
Troopship travel. Ever advancing.

Rubber eating asphalt. Esurient bugger!
Be-capped captain of the vessel, front right aligned.
Serious, concentrated. Steers to our loading bay.
Shuffles begin. Slow, but steady as she goes.
No smiles, no colloquy. Simply shuffles.
Tuneless accordion doors slide open.

Onboarding. Pass showing protocol.
Welcoming officer, cold. Indifference abounds.
I bid him “Good morning, Sir”.
A practiced scowl retorted. Disparaged.
At last. Now, as one with the tacit team.
Herd comfort. Recognition. United.

Conquer the stairs to level two. Privileged deck.
Seating rare in this terrain. Semi extinct. Scoping panjandrums.
Hunters all. Survival of the fittest. Perchance.
Target identified. Crosshairs locked on. Homing in.
Document case launched. Laser accurate.
Target secured. Touch down. Seat meets seat.

A window glance confirms movement. Forward motion.
Speeding. Burning gas. Ice caps thawed. Globe warmed.
A juggernaut hurtling. Chasing time. Mach 1.
Soon be there. Raging anticipation. Pulsation. Momentarily.
My private happy place. Mon endroit heureux.
Secrets to be shared. Jointly enjoyed. Canopied euphoria.

Emerald canopy infiltrated. A virtual, verdure veil.
No others stir. Oblivious to nature. Unseeing. Unappreciative.
Sunlight on dappled leaves. Rays converse. Au Courant.
Morse code messaging. Covert contact. Mine alone.
I revel. This is MY time. Although time’s halted. Frozen.
Enter the single Silver Birch, stoic in a realm of Horse Chestnuts.

That Betula Pendula taught me so very much.
We communicate as I glide by. Subliminal sign on.
Actual logging in. Mental discourse.
I query if he is sad, lonely.
“Alone, but not lonely!” He continues.
“You visit, Flora and Fauna drop by, the sun, the wind…So blessed”.

Certain about the canopy?
“Absolute certainty. It’s the pain”
Trees do feel pain?
We accelerate past. Strain for the last words.
Glimpse skyward. The sun still messaging.
No branches touch the top of our vehicle.

Words float over the engine’s roar,
“Yes, we all feel pain”.
“We all feel love. Like you, we avoid the Via Delorosa”.
Over and out. Communications link lost.
Until tomorrow. Jusqu’à demain mon ami.
A smugly smile steals across my face.

Eyes tight shut. Blind celebration. Yes!
Virtual high five. Fist bump fantasy. Ultimate pictureless selfie.
Ephemeral ecstasy. Cerebral celebration.
Furtive observation. Other travelers oblivious.
My secret secure. Locked up tight.
As tight as a very tight thing. Key concealed.

Terminus looms. The canopy, a rearview mirror throwback.
Glorious morning. Another miracle. One of many already today.
Cradled once more by Mother Nature. With absolute proof.
Loneliness, is a mental state. Alone, exclusively physical.
Disembarking. Stepping out. Eyes peer heavenward.
Pupils contract. Gratitude expands. Thankful.

Thankful I have learned all living things have feelings.
Thankful for complete acceptance. To be trusted. Intimate inclusion.
Meandering through the milling throng. Trudging. Diluted enthusiasm.
To the daunting building on the hill. A bastion of cruelty.
Supposedly of learning. Dark, foreboding. School.
A manifestly different journey ahead. Purely, a real mental state.

Martin Cox.

Read Poem: ETERNAL SUMMER SONATE, by Ulisses Santiago

Symphonic Poem in Five Movements

First movement
– Andante

Today I say dawn
as I could say stories and spring.
The sun takes on the tiny
presence of an atom
with its protons and neutrons
displacing thin threads of heat,
reflexes of anguish
liquor bubbles
placid floating of toasted pale skin
or an evening alarm
with its sedentary heel
or morning horn of the day.

Today I say morning
when the intention is to wake up to the sea,
wake up to pine trees
that claim the altitude of the palms
and border the universe with senile breath.
Nothing is decipherable beyond waiting,
beyond the waiting that spins
towards the voice, towards calm.
Towards the centaur that lies under
Neptune’s trunk,
under the trembling ruins of Hercules,
beyond Sisyphus
there is a cause,
a reason related
with hunger, with Cain
with the universal cry of the perfect angel,
there is party, ideology and a star channel
there is reason and channel after the lyre,
behind the Gregorian chants
behind the myth there is a force.
A glass of water
acquires a god
swallowing it acquires a rite,
a song and a deadly twilight.
So, to say morning
as I could say “stories” and “spring”,
has a lot to do with Aphrodite
with Dante and Bonaparte,
with a Bach concert
with a Sunday mass
with a cotton speck
perched on a wound,
has to do with the eternal
curse of existence.

Everything has to do with everything
from the soap bubbles
up to Hitchcock’s chair,
from Achilles’ pain
up to Einstein’s formula,
from genetic engineering
up to a plate of rice with beans.

Everything is a dictionary of processes,
a tuna sandwich with jam
tomatoes and steel ropes
where it hangs secure,
patient, and vital the wait.

Today I say dawn and I say land
like saying parrot, mountain,
Caribbean, streets, and stone.
Like saying I belong to the Parnassus,
to the bay, to the mud,
to the current avenue
of metals and rubber,
like saying I have
homeland and burger king,
I have Garcilaso and Llorens,
Rimbaud and Machu Pichu,
Hemingway and Picasso,
Fellini’s Rimini and the sunny streets of Ponce
I have Gongora and Mona Lisa,
the whole stream of Spain,
the vigorous pulp of Africa
the noble frown of Agueybaná
the steady hand of Betances.
I have it all
in a rhythmic sonata
of the eternal summer that throbs.

Here I begin by saying that it is dawn
like saying it is coffee time with milk,
it is time for a day’s work,
to start the car correctly,
turning the street corner with a hot engine
and look closely at the speedometer.